Editor’s Note: Wireless operators are a busy bunch, and as such RCR Wireless News will attempt to gather some of the important announcements that may slip through the cracks from the world’s largest carriers in a weekly wrap-up. Enjoy!
—T-Mobile US this week initiated changes to its employer rate plan discounts for new customers in a move it claims furthers its “un-carrier” strategy.
The carrier said that beginning April 1, customers would no longer be able to garner a monthly discount on their wireless service through their employer. Instead, qualified customers would be provided with a flat $25 reward card each time they purchase a new device.
In explaining the change, T-Mobile US CEO John Legere said: “The old programs were designed to help big carriers close big corporate contracts, with employees as bargaining chips. We aren’t playing that game anymore. This change is about simplifying wireless for everyone … including employees of small and large companies alike.”
T-Mobile US had initially said that the change would impact all current and new accounts qualified for an employer discount, but changed that policy to just impacting new accounts following a firestorm of protests from customers that had become accustomed to the regular discount.
In announcing the alteration, Legere stated: “Over the past couple days, I’ve been doing a lot of listening to our customers. And, we’ve decided to update our implementation plan for the changes I announced to the Advantage Program. Everyone enrolled in the Advantage Program or who applied to enroll before April 1 will be able to keep a rate plan discount as long as they work at a participating employer and remain on a qualifying plan. All of our Simple Choice plans currently qualify. We will be asking that customers participate in a simple annual online employer verification. That’s it.”
—SK Telecom said it had achieved the first “commercialization” of uplink cooperative multi-point, which it claims can “significantly” increase upload speeds on an LTE network. Nokia Solutions and Networks worked with SK Telecom on the test.
The carrier claims that the technology directs signals from mobile devices are received by multiple base stations at the same time, combining the signals to increase connection quality. The technology is capable of providing upload speeds 20% higher in fringe coverage areas.
The technology is deployed across a network, so customers are not required to purchase a new handset to take advantage of the increased speeds, with SK Telecom stating it plans to apply the technology to all of its LTE base stations by the end of 2014.
–Along with the big-name operators set to launch Samsung’s Galaxy S5 flagship next week, internationally focused prepaid operator Black Wireless said it will offer the device through its recently announced partnership with GSM Nation.
Black Wireless, which is a division of calling card provider SDI, offers SIM cards that users can insert into unlocked mobile devices. GSM Nation is an online phone retailer and wholesaler, specializing in unlocked devices.
Black Wireless said it will offer the Galaxy S5 for $749, with prepaid plans including unlimited talk, messaging and 500 megabytes of data beginning at $30 per month. All of the company’s plans include free international calling to more than 100 countries, with an additional balance included for calls to countries outside of the unlimited list. The carrier does not currently support LTE services.
—Truphone announced the expansion of its roaming service to include Germany, Poland and Spain. The Truphone Zone continues to include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Hong Kong and the Netherlands.
The Truphone Zone offering provides companies conducting business in those markets with local rates for international mobile calls, texts and data services. Truphone added that the expansion also allows customers to have the option of up to eight international phone numbers on the same mobile device, all tied together with unified voicemail and SMS services.
“Having multiple country numbers on your smartphone means that your international contacts can call and text a mobile number that is local to them,” explained Pascal de Hesselle, VP of marketing for Truphone Americas. “As a result, business customers can stay closer to their international colleagues, clients and partners.”
In addition to the new markets, Truphone launched a new international data plan as part of a 60-day promotion. The “Switch On International Data” program reduces the price of a global data SIM usage with one gigabyte of international data by 50% to $15 per month when used within the Truphone Zone.
Additional carrier news can be found on the RCR Wireless News “Carriers” page.
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